Trenching machine



' p 9 1941 w. G. VAN VOORHIS ETAL 9 7373 TRENCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Char/as A. George April 9 19410 W. G. VAN mom-us ETAL 2237.773

TRENCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fake/v /V. 560/76/2 Char/65 L. Geo/ya v Patented Apr. 8, 1941 TRENCHING MACHINE William G. Van Voorhis, Robert N. Bennett, and Charles L. George, Findlay, Ohio, assignors to The Buckeye Traction Ditcher Company, Findlay, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,844

17 Claims.

This invention relates to trenching machines particularly of the type employing a spokeless digging wheel having a series of excavating buckets to dig a trench as the machine advances. An object of this invention is to produce a machine of the above character having a plurality of excavating wheels constructed and arranged to excavate a trench of stepped cross section in which one portion is relatively shallow and the other portion is relatively deep, the wheels being mounted for unitary adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to produce a trenching machine of the above character in which a portion of the dirt excavated is thrown or spread throughout a substantial area from the machine while another portion is so deposited along the edge of the trench as to form a continuous mound suitable for a parapet.

A further object of the invention is to produce a machine which is particularly usable for military purposes to form a trench having one portion deeper than another portion and providing at the side of the shallower portion a parapet from the use of the dirt excavated.

A still further object is to produce a trenching machine of the above character having the new and improved features of construction, arrangement and operation hereinafter described.

For purposes of illustration but not of limitation an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of a trenching machine employing different sized di ging wheels for excavating a trench having a relatively deep and a relatively shallow portion;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, some of the parts being omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the plate at the upper end of the chute adjusted to a position to reduce the amount of dirt falling upon the chute;

,Fi ure 4 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line 44 of Figure 2, showing a view of the lower end of the chute;

Figur 5 is a rear end elevation of the shoe or crumber structure; and

Figure 6 is a view substantially on the line 6-8 of Figure 5 showing a portion of the chute and the scraper.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a trenching machine having a main frame It which is driven by a pair of crawlers I l.

Mounted on the frame Hi is a cab l2 in advance of which is disposed the motor l3 which may be a gasoline or Diesel engine. The operative connections between the motor and crawlers form no part of the present invention so that more detailed description thereof is not considered necessary.

Mounted at the rear end portion of the frame In is an upright or post M from which is supported by cables l5 and 56 the excavating wheel structure hereinafter described.

Theexcavating wheel structure comprises an excavating wheel ii and an excavating wheel l8 which, as shown on Figure 2, are arranged side by side. The excavating wheel i8 is of considerably greater diameter than that of the wheel I'l so that the wheel i8 is enabled to form a relatively deep cut A-whereas the wheel l'l cuts a relatively shallow cut B. Each of the excavating wheels I! and i8 is of a well-known construction and generally consists of laterally spaced rims l9 and 28 to which a series of excavating buckets 2i having digging teeth 22 is secured.

The excavating wheels H and 68 are mounted on a common frame, consisting of a pair of laterally spaced horizontally disposed beams 23.

and 24 which are connected at their rear ends by a cross bar 25, intermediate cross bars 26 and a front end bar 2i. Fixed by means of cross members 68 and 69 to the longitudinal beams 23 and 24 and depending therefrom is a frame 28 having spaced guide rollers 29 engaging the rims of the wheel ll. Suitably mounted on the beams 23 and 24 is a shaft 30 having a pair of gears 3| meshing with the teeth 32 on the rims 49 of the wheel H. In opposed relation to the gears 3! is a pair of rollers 33 so that the wheel i1 is supported by the four pairs of rollers 29, 3| and 33, the drive being imparted through the gears 3! as will hereinafter appear. The rollers 33 are mounted on a shaft carried by a frame 34 which is connected to the upper side of the beams 23 and 24.

The wheel I8 is supported by a frame 35 similar to the frame 28 above described and similarly supported. It will be understood that the wheel I8 is mounted in a manner similar to the mounting of the wheel I1 so that detailed description thereof is not considered necessary. It will also be understood that gears similar to the gears 3i mesh with gear teeth on the outer rims of th wheel l8, such gears also being mounted on the shaft 30 so that upon rotation of the shaft 30 both of the excavating wheels I! and I 8 are concomitantly driven. At each end of the shaft 30 are sprocket wheels 36 which are connected by chains 31 to sprocket wheels 38 mounted on a shaft 39. The shafts 30 and 39 are connected by adjustable struts 40. Also mounted on the shaft 39 are sprocket wheels (not shown) which.

are connected by chains 42 to sprocket wheels 63 which in turn are connected to be operated by the motor I3. The shaft 39 is connected to the shaft on which the sprocket wheels A3 are mounted by adjustable struts 43a.

Connected at opposite ends of the rear cross beam 25 are forwardly and upwardly inclined braces 49, the upper ends of which are secured to the frame 36. Similar braces 50 extend forwardly and downwardly from the forward end of the frame 3% to brackets 5i having guide plates 52 arranged on opposite sides of the posts M, sheaves 53 being disposed between the plates 52.

Pairs of vertically disposed posts H and 72 are fixed intermediate their ends to the rear cross beam 25. The upper ends of the posts H and 12 are connected to a cross bar which is connected at its opposite ends by rods 61 which extend to brackets 38 suitably secured to the frame 34. The posts II are joined by a plate 13 which is welded at its edge portions to the adjacent posts and the posts 12 are similarly connected by a plate M. The posts H are disposed in rear of the larger excavating wheel I8 and are accordingly longer than the posts 12. Mounted on the lower end of the posts H is a shoe 15 which is disposed horizontally and is adapted to ride in the bottom of the trench or cut A formed by the excavating wheel It. The shoe 15 is suitably placed with respect to the posts H and carried by the shoe i5 is a curved scraper blade 46 which has its upper end secured to the posts H. The blade 46 is of approximately the width of the out A and is adapted to catch any dirt which the digging wheel l8 drops so that the same may be subsequently picked up by the digging wheel and a clean trench is consequently obtained.

A shoe 16 is connected to the lower ends of the posts 12 and is adapted to ride along the bottom of the cut B formed by the digging wheel I1. A scraper blade 46a similar to the scraper 46 is connected to the shoe l6 and the posts I2 to clean the cut B. The scraper blades 46 and 55a are connected by a wall or diaphragm H which prevents dirt from passing between the scrapers, As shown on Figure 1, the scraper blade 46a is disposed in advance of the scraper blade 46.

In operation it will be apparent to anyone skilled in this art that the excavating wheels I! and I8 rotating in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 1) dig into the earth by means of the buckets 2| and elevate the dirt which successively dump their loads onto a conveyor C which is disposed within the wheels I? and I8 transversely thereof to convey the dirt laterally of the machine, suitable baflies being provided to prevent the buckets from dischargingvtheir loads too early. The conveyor C is in the form of an endless belt 54 passing about sheaves 55 and 56, the former being disposed within the confines of the excavating wheel I! and the latter being disposed at the outer side of the digging wheel l8. The sheaves 55 and 56 are suitably mounted on shafts 55a and 55:; respectively which are carried by the cross bars 26. As shown in Figure 1, the shaft 56a on which the sheave 56 is mounted has a beveled gear 51 meshing with a gear 57a on the shaft 30.

Adjacent and slightly below the discharge end of the belt 56 is a paddle wheel 58 which is carried by a bracket 59 and is connected by a drive chain 58a to a sprocket wheel on the shaft 56a and thereby driven at a relatively high speed so that the dirt which falls upon the paddle wheel 58 is thrown with considerable force over a substantial area to one side of the machine. A portion of the dirt from the excavating wheel I! drops upon a chute 50 and an adjustable bafiie plate 5! at the top of the chute directs the remaining dirt to the conveyor belt 54. As shown on Figure 3, the baffle plate 6| may be adjusted so that the amount of dirt delivered to the chute may be decreased as desired. It will be obvious that the baiiie plate 6| is mounted for sliding movements in inclined guides, and is held in its adjusted position by friction or any other suitable means. The chute 60 inclines downwardly toward a point outside the beam 23 and the arrangement is such that the dirt which passes down the chute 50 forms a mound D the inner side of which is close to the edge of the cut formed by the digging wheel l7. As the machine advances, a strike-off blade 63 extending outwardly from the rear side of the outer end of the chute, levels off the top of the mound D thereby forming a parapet for the shallower cut B. As shown the blade 63 has an adjustable connection 63a with the chute 50 in order to regulate the height of the mound D in accordance with the adjustment of the blade upwardly or downwardly.

When not in use, the digging wheels I! and I8 can be elevated as a unit by the cables I5 and it, the ends of which are secured to power driven winches 65 and 66 driven from the motor l3. The driving connections for the excavating wheels and conveyor mechanism are such as to enable the digging wheels to be elevated or lowered without disturbing the drive, the pivoted struts 40 and 63a enabling this to be accomplished. It will be understood that in use the cables are slackened sufiiciently so that approximately onehalf the weight of the digging wheel structure is borne by the shoes 15 and 16 which, as above mentioned, ride along the bottoms of the trenches excavated by the digging wheels. The controls, clutches and other driving mechanism for the crawler belts H and for use in driving the excavating wheels will be conveniently located within the cab l2 but since these mechanisms are wellknown to those skilled in this art, and as such form no part of the present invention, detailed description and illustration is not considered necessary.

In operation it will be apparent that as the machine advances, the excavating wheels l1 and I8 operate to dig a trench of stepped formation. Atthe same time, the dirt is thrown over a substantial area at one side of the machine but a portion of the dirt is deposited adjacent the shallower trench to form a parapet. This enables the machine to be particularly useful for military purposes in expeditiously and efiiciently digging a trench for soldiers, the parapet formed by the mount D providing a convenient shield for warfare purposes. The unitary mounting of the two excavating wheels is regarded as an important feature because it lends itself to relatively simple handling and requires only a single control for elevating or lowering, the wheels being so arranged that they may be operated as a unit.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is: v

1. A trenching machine comprising two diggers arranged side by side, one being adapted to excavate a relatively deep cut and the other a relatively shallow cut, a conveyor to which the dirt is delivered by the diggers arranged to discharge the same laterally ofthe diggers and to the side of the deep cut, means for forcefully throwing the dirt from the conveyor, a chute for discharging a predetermined portion of the dirt at the side of the shallow cut and forming a mound of predetermined height and a baflle adjustably mounted at the upper end of said chute for regulating the amount of dirt passing therethrough.

2. A trenching machine comprising two diggers arranged side by side, one being adapted to excavate a relatively deep cut and the other a relatively shallow cut, a conveyor to which the dirt is delivered by the diggers arranged to discharge the same laterally of the diggers and to the side of the deep cut, a high speed rotor for forcefully throwing the dirt from the conveyor, and means for discharging a portion of the dirt at the side of the shallow cut and forming a mound of predetermined height.

3. A trenching machine comprising a plurality of dig wheels arranged side by side and adapted to excavate, simultaneously trenches of different depths, a common supporting frame for said wheels, a crawler type tractor carrying said frame and operatively connected to said wheels for actuating same, a conveyor disposed transversely of said wheels for discharging dirt excavated by said wheels to one side of the frame, a chute for carrying a portion of the dirt excavated to the other side of the frame and deposit same at the outer side of the adjacent trench, and means to form the dirt deposited by said chute into a mound of predetermined height and contour.

4. A trenching machine comprising a pair of digging wheels on of which is constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively deep trench and the other of which is constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively shallow trench, and means including a conveyor extending through said digging wheels for depositing portions of the dirt excavated by said wheels to opposite sides of the machine, that portion being deposited at the side of the relatively shallow trench being of moundlike form of predetermined height adjacent the edge of such trench.

5. A trenching machine comprising a pair of digging wheels one of which is constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively deep trench and the other of which is constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively shallow trench, a common supporting frame for said wheels, a conveyor common to said wheels and extending through each of said wheels for depositing dirt excavated thereby to the side of said frame adjacent the deep trench, and means for depositing a predetermined portion of the dirt from one of said wheels adjacent the shallow trench to form a continuous parapet.

6. A trenching machine comprising a crawler type tractor, a pair of digging wheels at the rear end of said tractor and arranged side by side of the uppermost portion of the rim of each wheel substantially in alignment with one another, one wheel being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively deep trench and the other wheel being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively shallow trench, a common frame for said wheels, means carried by said frame for cleaning the trench floors to form a single stepped trench, an operative connection between said wheels and tractor for driving the former, a conveyor common to said wheels for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said frame, and a fast running rotor at the discharge end of the conveyor for throwing dirt therefrom.

7. A trenching machine comprising a crawler type tractor, a pair of digging wheels at the rear end of said tractor, one wheel being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively deep trench and the other wheel being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively shallow trench, a common frame for said wheels, an operative connection between said wheels and tractor for driving the former, a conveyor common to said wheels for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said frame, a fast running rotor at the discharge end of the conveyor for throwing dirt therefrom, and a chute for receiving a'portion of the dirt and discharging same at the outer side of said relatively shallow trench to form a mound suitable for a parapet.

8. A trenching machine comprising a pair of digging wheels arranged relatively close to each other for excavating in effect a single trench, one wheel being constructed and arranged to excavate more deeply than the other, a common frame for said wheels, and means for discharging dirt excavated during the digging operation to the side of the relatively shallow portion of the trench to form a parapet, said last means comprising a chute to which a portion of the dirt is discharged, and a strip of horizontally disposed metal attached to the lower end of the chute for leveling the top of the mound formed by the dirt from the chute.

9. A trenching machine comprising a crawler type tractor, digging means at the rear end of said tractor, said means being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively deep trench and a relatively shallow trench, a frame for said digging means, an operative connection between said digging means and tractor for driving the former, a conveyor for said digging means for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said frame, a fast running rotor at the discharge and of the conveyor for throwing dirt therefrom, and a chute for receiving a portion of the dirt and discharging same at the outer side of said relatively shallow trench to form a mound suitable for a parapet.

10. A trenching machine comprising a power tractor, a pair of digging wheels at the rear end of said tractor, one wheel being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively deep trench and the other wheel being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively shallow trench, a common frame for said wheels, an operative connection between said wheels and tractor for driving the former, means common to said wheels for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said frame, a fast running rotor at the discharge and of the conveyor for throwing dirt therefrom, and a chute for receiving a portion of the dirt and discharging same at the outer side of said relatively shallow trench to form a. mound suitable for a parapet.

11. A trenching machine comprising a crawler type tractor, digging means at the rear end of said tractor, said means including a pair of digging elements and being constructed and arranged to excavate a relatively deep trench and a relatively shallow trench, a common frame for said digging elements, an operative connection between said digging means and tractor for driving the former, a conveyor common to said digging elements for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said frame, means at the discharge end of the conveyor for forcefully throwing dirt therefrom, and a chute for receiving a portion of the dirt and discharging same at the outer side of said relatively shallow trench to form a mound suitable for a parapet.

12. A trenching machine comprising a crawler type tractor, digging wheel means carried by said tractor capable of digging a stepped trench, an operative connection between said wheel means and tractor for driving the former, a conveyor for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said wheel means, a fast running rotor at the discharge end of the conveyor for throwing dirt therefrom, and means for receiving a portion of the dirt and discharging same at one side of the trench dug by said digging wheel means to form a mound suitable for a parapet.

\ 13. A trenching machine comprising a power tractor, a pair of digging wheels at one end of the tractor and arranged relatively close to each other for excavating in effect a trench having a. single stepped floor, an operative connection between said tractor and wheels for driving the latter, conveyor means to which dirt is delivered by the digging wheels arranged to discharge the same laterally thereof and at the deep side of the trench, said conveyor means including means for throwing the dirt a substantial distance away from the machine, and means for discharging a portion of the dirt at the shallow side of the trench to form a mound suitable for a parapet.

14. A trenching machine comprising a power tractor, a pair of digging wheels at the rear end of said tractor, each wheel comprising a pair of laterally spaced rims and a series of excavating buckets carried by said rims, a common support for said digging wheels, said common support including a pair of laterally spaced horizontally disposed beams, cross bars connecting the front and rear end portions of said beams, a pair of spaced cross members on said beams passing through said wheel rims, supporting frames for said digging wheels disposed between said beams and depending therefrom, means on each supporting frame and engaging the rim portions of the adjacent digging wheel providing a mounting therefor, a conveyor common to the digging wheels for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said common support, means for spreading dirt from the conveyor over the adjacent area, and means for discharging a portion of the dirt at the opposite side of the machine to form a mound.

15. A trenching machine comprising apower tractor, a pair of digging wheels at the rear end of said tractor, each wheel comprising a pair of and rear end. portions of said beams, a pair of spaced cross members on said beams passing through said wheel rims, supporting frames for said digging wheels disposed between said beams and depending therefrom, means on each supporting frame and engaging the'rim portions of the adjacent digging wheel providing a mountingtherefor, a conveyor common to the digging wheels for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said common support, means for spreading dirt from the conveyor over the adjacent area, said spreading means including a fast running rotor arranged at the discharge end of said conveyor, and means in the form of a chute for discharging a portion of the dirt at the opposite side of the machine to form a mound.

16. A trenching machine comprising a power tractor, a pair of digging wheels at the rear end of said tractor, each wheel comprising a pair of laterally spaced rims and a series of excavating buckets carried by said rims, a common support for said digging wheels, said common support including a pair of laterally spaced horizontally disposed beams, cross bars connecting the front and rear end portions of said beams, a pair of spaced cross members on said beams. passing through said wheel rims, supporting frames for said digging wheels disposed between said beams and depending therefrom, means on each supporting frame and engaging the rim portions of the adjacent digging wheel providing a mounting therefor, and a conveyor common to the digging wheels for discharging dirt excavated thereby laterally of said common support.

17. A trenching machine comprising a power tractor, a pair of centerless digging wheels at the rear end of said tractor mounted side by side in relatively close relationship, each wheel comprising a pair of laterally spaced rims and a series of excavating buckets connecting said rims, a common support for said digging wheels, said support comprising a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced beams arranged respectively on the outer side of each digging wheel, means providing a connection between the front ends of said beams and said tractor, a pair of spaced cross members connecting said beams and extending through both digging wheels, a frame foreach digging wheel fixedly mounted between said beams, rollers on each'frame engaging the adjacent rims for supporting the respective digging wheel, a conveyor common to the digging wheels for discharging dirt therefrom, andmeans for driving both digging wheels and the conveyor from said tractor.

WILLIAM G. VAN YVOORHIS. ROBERT N. BENNETT. CHARLES L. GEORGE. 

